[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 8, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 33440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11393]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 223

[I.D. 022405B]
RIN 0648-AS92


Sea Turtle Conservation; Public Hearing Notification

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is announcing its 
intent to hold public hearings in Massachusetts and New Jersey to 
inform interested parties of the proposed gear modification for the 
mid-Atlantic sea scallop dredge fishery and to accept public comments 
on this action.

DATES: NMFS will hold a public hearing in Fairhaven, MA on Thursday, 
June 16, 2005, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., eastern daylight time and in Cape 
May, NJ on Wednesday, June 22, 2005, from 7 p.m to 9 p.m., eastern 
daylight time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
    Hampton Inn New Bedford, 1 Hampton Way, Fairhaven, MA 02719 (ph. 
508-990-8500).
    Cape May City Hall, 643 Washington St., Cape May, NJ 08204 (ph. 
609-884-9525).
    Written comments on the proposed rule, identified by RIN 0648-AS92, 
may be submitted by any one of the following methods: NMFS/Northeast 
Region Website: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/com.html Follow the 
instructions on the website for submitting comments.
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instruction on the website for submitting comments.
    E-mail: [email protected] Please include the RIN 0648-AS92 
in the subject line of the message.
    Mail: Mary A. Colligan, Assistant Regional Administrator for 
Protected Resources, NMFS, Northeast Region, One Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930, ATTN: Sea Turtle Conservation Measures, Proposed 
Rule
    Facsimile (fax): 978-281-9394, ATTN: Sea Turtle Conservation 
Measures, Proposed Rule

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Keane (ph. 978-281-9300 x6526), 
NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was issued on May 27, 2005 
(70 FR 30660), which would require all vessels with a Federal Atlantic 
sea scallop fishery permit and a sea scallop dredge, regardless of 
dredge size or vessel permit category, to modify their dredge(s) when 
fishing south of 41[deg] 9.0' N. latitude, from the shoreline to the 
outer boundary of the Exclusive Economic Zone from May 1 through 
November 30 each year. Additional information on the justification for 
this action can be found in the proposed rule.
    Copies of the Draft Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact 
Review and documents cited in the proposed rule can be obtained from 
http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/com.html listed under the ADDRESSES 
portion of this document or by writing to Ellen Keane, NMFS, Northeast 
Region, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 The public comment 
period closes at 5 p.m. EST on June 27, 2005.
    In determining how to proceed with this proposed action, NMFS will 
consider the public comments received (either in writing or verbally 
during the public hearing) during the 30-day comment period.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are accessible to people with disabilities. Requests 
for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be 
directed to Ellen Keane, telephone 978-281-9328 x6526, fax 978-281-
9394, at least 5 days before the scheduled meeting date.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: June 3, 2005.
P. Michael Payne,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-11393 Filed 6-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S